Bollywood actors Ayushmann Khuranna and Vicky Kaushal shared the Best Actor honours as the 66th National Film awards were announced on Friday. As their fans rejoiced, down south fans of megastar Mammootty were aghast with the decision of film awards' jury headed by Rahul Rawail.

Fans of actor Mammootty were left in shock as many were expecting an award for his extraordinary performance in ‘Peranbu’. Even the live video telecast of the awards declaration online had comments hailing Mammootty.

After the awards were announced, fans on social media started trending hashtags supporting ‘Peranbu’ and Mammootty.

However, things took a nasty turn when a section of fans stormed the social media handle of jury chairman Rawail and showered him with abuses. Derogatory comments were passed against him for ignoring Mammootty’s performance in ‘Peranbu’. Appalled by such a cyberattack, Rawail shared a note to Mammootty which he shared on his page as well. He wrote to Mammootty seeking his intervention and making it clear that the jury’s decision is final.

Rawail also clarified that ‘Peranbu’ got rejected by the regional panel itself and hence did not even contend in the central panel for the national award.

“Message sent by me, as Chairman of the Jury of 66th NFA, to Mammooty: ‘Hi Mr.Mammoty. There has been a lot of ‘hate mail’, that too extremely nasty, that I have been receiving from your fans, or so called fan clubs, as to why you were not given the National Award as Best Actor for the film ‘Peranbo’. Let me set the record straight: Firstly, NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO QUESTION A JURY DECISION. Secondly, your film ‘Peerambu’ had been REJECTED by the Regional Panel and hence did not contend in the Central Panel. Your fans and/or devotees should stop fighting a lost cause."

Never question a Jury! (sic.)

Mammootty, on his part, apologised for the fans’ behaviour. He has also added that whatever had happened was without his knowledge.